Tuft and Needle Review & Alternatives (2019 Edition)

Last Updated On September 7th, 2019

For most people, mattress shopping occurs about as infrequently as buying a new car or home. It may not be the biggest decision to make but, is certainly a decision that will greatly affect your overall health and well-being.

You’ll know it’s time to look for a new mattress once you’ve had enough of restless, uncomfortable nights sleep on a lumpy or sagging bed surface. Even the very best mattresses don’t last forever, and eventually, you’ve got to shop for a new one. When this time comes, make some extra effort to consider the various brands and their models before purchasing, because it will save you plenty of unnecessary hassle and hard earned money in the long run.

With that, let’s get right into our latest Tuft and Needle review, a product known as the T&N, from a well-known brand who has taken the market by storm in recent years. If you’re intrigued in this product as much as we were before beginning our research, take a read of our review below.

Additionally, T&N has recently released a new addition to their range, known as the Tuft and Needle Mint. Please also check our review of the Mint to see if it suits your needs.

The Tuft and Needle Mattress In Brief

Here are a few quick facts that might catch your fancy about the T&N Mattress and the companies operating standards in general:

The Product Review

Tuft and Needle is an online retailer of foam mattresses. They offer free shipping for 48 states, and their T&N mattress comes delivered in a tight vacuum packed roll to fit in small box, which is also commonly known in the industry as a bed in a box solution. They say that once you receive it and remove the packaging, it will expand rapidly to a thickness within 30 seconds, but can take much longer to fully expand. From our experience, most foam mattresses can take up to 24 hours to fully expand.

They claim that your new mattress should arrive within 2 to 5 business days after placing an order (excluding Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada, which takes 10 business days). This is a relatively standard turnaround for a reputable company, and 2 to 5 days is quick nonetheless.

Tuft and Needle claim that they don’t have huge markups like most big mattresses companies do, and nor do they use any of the four major ingredients either (latex, memory foam, springs or egg crate foam). However, perhaps the key to their success and the only ingredient used, is T&N Adaptive foam, which we’ll discuss further in depth below.

The T&N mattress, in particular, is compatible with all bed frames including box spring, slatted frames, and adjustable frames. It comes in a variety of sizes including, Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King and Cal King. They have a 100-night free trial offer which is great because they are an online retailer – You can order the mattress and see how it feels to sleep on, and if it doesn’t work for you, simply send it back.

Tuft and Needle say their T&N is built to last, and as such they back it up with a 10-year warranty in case anything happens or it doesn’t stay strong and durable.

Mattress Features

The Tuft and Needle mattress has several main features including T&N adaptive foam layers, cooling technology, compatible with any bed frame, and low affordable prices. We discuss some of these in depth below:

Adaptive Foam Layers

A mattress built with adaptive foam layers to provide comfort and support, this material is engineered based on customer feedback and consists of neither latex or memory foam. The T&N adaptive memory foam claims to adjust to every individual’s body and provides the firmness and support that your body needs.

The T&N mattress itself consists of only two layers of adaptive polyurethane foam, the bottom is a 7-inch thick base layer, and the top layer is 3 inches thick for added comfort and support. The benefit of adaptive foam is that it has a gradient of support and will adopt the levels of cradling depending on how much pressure is applied to it.

I did some research to see what effects adaptive foam mattresses have on back health compared to other types. I found one study done by Sleep Science on the effects of an adapted mattress in musculoskeletal pain and sleep quality of institutionalized elders. Their study included 40 older adults with pre-existing musculoskeletal pain along with a group of good sleepers, and they used medium-firm adaptable mattresses. The results were amazing. They found that participants had a significant reduction in cervical, dorsal and lumbar pain. They also concluded there was a shorter sleep onset and overall sleep efficiency was improved.

The results of this study prove very beneficial towards deciding on whether or not to buy a Tuft and Needle mattress. This option would be a great choice of purchase if you experience back pain or have trouble sleeping due to aches, and in fact, it has long been our top choice as the best mattress for back pain on ChooseMattress.com.

The only drawback to this feature is that you only get one level of comfort which is about a medium-firm. Although this mattress is meant to adjust to your body type and weight in terms of support, the overall firmness doesn’t change. If you prefer a something with added softness and cushion or perhaps something much firmer, then the Tuft and Needle may not be the one for you.

Cooling Technology

The T&N is equipped with foam technology that works in three ways to draw body heat away and disperse it elsewhere. This feature is perfect if you suffer from constant hot flashes at night or you just can’t sleep when you get too warm. This is also beneficial for those people suffering hot nights in warmer climates.

The first way it draws heat away is by utilizing heat wicking materials in the design. Once heat is drawn into the mattress, a combination of gel and graphite work together to transfer heat outward and away from your body.

The second way heat is drawn is by incorporating breathable fabrics. The T&N is enclosed in breathable material that keeps it from trapping heat. Air is constantly flowing through the foam cells which boosts the rate of the heat transfer throughout the inner core.

The third method used to aid with cooling is the ‘no more quicksand’ surface, which is typical of most traditional memory foam mattresses. Basically, this means the T&N will hold you on the top of the surface and prevent you from sinking into to. When you sleep on some budget foam mattresses that pulls you into it, it can create an oven effect and trap heat inside.

Compatible With Any Bed Frame

It’s relieving to know that the Tuft and Needle mattress is compatible with any style of bed frame. Mattress shopping can be difficult if you have a specific bed that you need to buy for. Not to mention, some companies may even try to charge you more just for a mattress that will fit on your frame. This one works with several types of bed including box springs, slatted frames, and adjustable beds too.

Box springs are a common bed frame because they add a level of added strength and support. This frame absorbs a lot of the weight of the mattress, which will help extend the life it. Box springs are a good option if you have health troubles with your legs or you need to climb in and out of bed without overexertion, because they can add overall height to the bed.

Slatted beds consist of wooden slats placed in a linear fashion that is usually attached to rubber holders and a metal frame. This type of bed frame provides the utmost support and comfort for your body, especially your back. It also gives added ventilation underneath the mattress to help get it cooler by dissipating small amounts of heat downwards and out through the slats, which are usually spaced 1-2 inches apart from each other.

Adjustable beds have been known to improve your health for many reasons, and are especially good for people with varying types of medical conditions. Adjustable bed frames can increase blood circulation which can help to relieve aches and pains. It also helps with acid reflux and can relieve symptoms commonly associated with asthma. Not all mattresses are compatible with adjustable beds, purely because they cannot flex and take shape easily with the movement of the base underneath. The Tuft and Needle mattress, however, has no issues here, and flexes to the movement of the bed as required, making this a very good “adjustable mattress.”

Convenient Sales & Shipping

Shopping for a new mattress has never been easier. Gone are the days of making a trip to a showroom, being followed around the store by a sometimes pushy salesman, and then being pressured into something that maybe wasn’t right for you in the first place. Once you’ve passed that hurdle, you’ll then need to process the order at the counter and then wait for a huge, extremely heavy and awkward to carry block of foam to arrive at your door. With companies like Tuft and Needle who are streamlining online sales and utilizing the bed in a box facilitation, having the mattress delivered to your door vacuum rolled and boxed is a blessing in disguise. One or two people can easily carry the box to anywhere in the home, cut away the packaging, unroll the T&N onto your bed base, and wait a short while for it to expand to full size.

Low Affordable Prices

One of the main perks here and one which we always like to highlight is the mattress price tag. They have set prices and their standard price won’t be marked up as you would find in other big retailers. They have fairly set their prices based on the cost of the materials and paying their employees.

Online mattress retailers are usually cheaper to begin with compared to in-store retailers, but the Tuft and Needle mattresses are lower priced than even most online brands. All of their mattress sizes including California king can be purchased for less than a $1000.

Anytime I see a retailer selling something for a relatively low cost; I question the quality of the product like most people would. This company resolves that issue by offering a 100 night free trial for the mattress. If you test out the mattress for anything up to 100 nights and don’t like it, then the company will allow you to send it back for a refund.

They also offer a 10-year warranty which is in line with most other reputable mattress brands.

Social Proof

Before you purchase a mattress or any big item in general, you should read the reviews on them. I’ve seen several retailers with very compelling reviews and fancy looking websites that make their product look like the very best. After reading reviews, you can see what real people such as yourself, actually think about the product.

With that in mind, I scoured the internet for Tuft and Needle reviews and found the majority of them to be pretty positive. I also noticed that the company had been mentioned in a couple of big magazines such as Fortune, Entrepreneur, The New York Times and Recode.

Here are some T&N reviews of the many thousands available on Google Customer Reviews:

Tuft and Needle Alternatives

While researching various top rated mattresses, I found a couple of alternatives to the Tuft and Needle brand which could be compared against. Here are a few:

Tempur Pedic

Tempur-pedic is one of the most popular, respected and longest established manufacturers in the industry which are well known for their memory foam mattresses. In fact, they were the first company to domesticate the use of memory foam in mattresses. They claim the material responds to your bodies temperature, weight, and shape for personalized comfort and support. Their ranges are especially meant to contour and hug your body to minimize pressure points and relieve pain.

The Tempur-Pedic brand is well-known for reducing motion transfer too. If you have problems with waking your partner up in the middle of the night from tossing and turning or climbing in and out of bed, then this is a good option.

The mattress range features five different comparable styles and levels of comfort including TEMPUR-Flex for a faster response, TEMPUR-Contour for a firmer feel, TEMPUR-Cloud for a softer support, TEMPUR-Breeze for cooler comfort, and TEMPUR-Legacy for signature comfort.

Some of the features of this brand that are similar to the Tuft and Needle mattresses are;

Leesa Mattress

The Leesa mattress consists of a three-layered foam design and claims to provide cooling, contouring and pressure-relieving support. This mattress is supposed to adapt to every body type and sleeping style, and they call this feature the universal adaptive feel which they say is exclusive only to Leesa mattresses.

This product is a great option if you want to have a foam mattress that isn’t too firm. It has a six-inch base support foam that adds strength and durability, but it also has a pressure-relieving memory foam in the center which makes it not as firm as most counterparts. The top layer works well to reduce heat retention and provides an extremely good pressure point relief too.

Some of the features of this brand that are similar to the Tuft and Needle mattresses are;

Available online and free shipping

100-night free trial

Cooling technology

Provides relief on pressure points

Delivered vacuum rolled and boxed

Some features that make the Leesa mattress different are;

Consists of three layers to provide support and comfort, instead of two like the Tuft and Needle

Purple Mattress

The Purple Bed is a mattress made up of a hyper-elastic polymer material that is meant to release pressure. It claims to cradle your back like a firm mattress would, and supports your hips and shoulders as a soft mattress would. The featured comfort layer is a grid formation with multiple walls that will either fold or support depending on how much pressure is placed upon it. This makes it a great mattress for chronic back pain or sore joints because it will relieve pressure wherever it’s necessary.

Some of the features of this brand that are similar to the Tuft and Needle mattresses are;

Provides relief on pressure points

Cooling technology

Available online and bed in a box supplied

Price range is similar

Only one comfort level

Some features that make the Purple mattress different are;

Completely different style and innovation of the topmost comfort layer

Conclusion

To conclude, keep in mind specific features that are important to you when it comes to finalizing your decision. As for the Tuft and Needle mattress, the top features include adaptive foam layers, cooling technology, multiple bed frame compatibility, and low affordable prices. Adaptive foam has been proven to aid with musculoskeletal back pain and increase sleep efficiency. The cooling technology in Tuft and Needle includes heat wick and breathable material and a non-sinking surface. These features work together to disperse heat among the whole mattress whilst providing the perfect spinal alignment required for a healthy back.

The Tuft and Needle mattress is compatible with many different bed frames including box spring, slatted and adjustable bed frames, and compared to most big retailers, the brand is significantly less expensive. They do include a free trial period and a 10-year warranty included in the price.

Overall, the online retailer which has also been recognized on Fortune, Entrepreneur, The New York Times and Recode, has done very well in this competitive market to produce a very good mattress that is worth the price tag and certainly one to consider for the shortlist.

Hi Mike,
Depending on whether you purchased directly from Tuft and Needle, or via a 3rd party reseller, the process can be different.
Direct from Tuft and Needle: They will help you find a donation center where you can donate the mattress.
From a 3rd Party Reseller: This will depend on the reseller, and you will need to clarify with them on their procedure.

We got a full T&N mattress after doing a lot of “hunting” and asking a thousand questions. We love it; love the material, love the comfort, love the customer service, love the price. Can’t recommend this mattress and this company highly enough!!
Dory

I have a king mint. It is so heavy I can no longer move my bed. I can barely lift a corner to tuck in the sheet. I am now in the process of moving and I should go to confession due to the cursing from trying to move the thing. I will have to hire people…… to move it! That is an extra 200 buck on the total cost of ownership. After a short lease, I will move to a house and another move. That will bring up the cost another 200. Almost 50% of cost to buy it.
I will admit it sleeps well but I could not tell a big difference between it and my old sleep number.

Hi Ernest, yes, mattresses these days unfortunately are very heavy. They become very awkward to move/carry when they have expanded and reach full shape, making a home-move difficult. As you rightly mentioned, it’s certainly something you should not attempt by yourself.

ChooseMattress.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.